16 Home Gym Ideas That Will Make You Instantly Work Out

To start a home gym, you need to take a carefully planned approach that depends on the space you’re going to use. Home gym ideas can be significantly different for a section of a garage or a spare room.

And some people might have an entire room to set up as a basement home gym.

So, depending on the space you have available, you then want to plan what kind of workout equipment you need and can afford.

It’s one thing saying you want a large Smith Machine and a high-end elliptical.

But do you have thousands of dollars to invest up-front?

The good news is that you can get started small and then gradually extend with additional equipment.

What Gear Is Best for Beginners at Home?

The best gym gear for beginners includes some basics like yoga mats, resistance exercise bands, and possibly a workout bench.

These are enough for anyone to start a regular workout routine.

Once you have a few basics in your workout area, you can then always expand on your initial investment with more advanced home gym ideas.

Related: Best Weight Bench for Home Gyms

The best gym equipment for experienced athletes includes exercise equipment to make lifting weights easier and safer.

That would include a Smith machine or squat rack, as well as free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, and barbells.

Depending on your fitness goals, you might also want to add more workout machines like rowers and ellipticals.

Or if you want to focus on bodybuilding, then your home workout room should focus more on different size weights so that you have more flexibility.

Let’s take a closer look at some home gym ideas.

Related: 10 Body Solid Home Gym Reviews

While you can do all sorts of push-ups on your yoga mat, investing in these bars will give you a wider range of motion in your workout routine.

They’ll take up practically no space in your home exercise room but will drastically improve the form of some bodyweight training.

4. Pull-Up Bar

You’ll make a huge difference to your workout options with pull-up bars.

But this doesn’t have to be a large freestanding rack. Instead, look for one that you can attach to your door frame and remove when your workout is done.

5. Jump Rope

Next on our list of home gym ideas is to look at good-quality jump ropes.

Don’t get the cheapest one you can find at a toy store, but rather a dedicated exercise rope. It will last a lot longer and should still cost you less than $20.

It’s also a cheap way to get some cardio in [2].

I would recommend that you get at least one workout machine to make cardio workouts a bit easier.

Even if you have a small workout room, you should be able to fit a stationary bike or a compact rower.

Treadmills and ellipticals are more suitable for a large home gym.

7. Suspension Ropes

If you have some floor space to stretch out, I would recommend that you install a solid hook to one wall above your head.

This will allow you to work with suspension ropes for a wide range of body-weight exercises.

8. Punching Bag

The next one of my home gym ideas isn’t just suitable for boxers and MMA fighters.

A punching bag is a great addition to a home gym, as kicking and punching can be a great way to do some cardio while having a lot of fun and blowing off some steam.

This is one of the home gym ideas that are more suitable for advanced athletes.

If you regularly do bench presses, then you need to buy a rack that has safety features.

As you probably won’t have a spotter available in your home gym, you need to make sure that safety is a top priority.

10. Smith Machine

Smith machines are a great but expensive addition to larger home gyms.

These are like cable machines you see at the gym but typically also incorporate a squat and safety rack.

If you’re planning to do a lot of highly targeted weight training, these can be a great way to make the best progress.

11. Mirrored Wall

Now it’s time for the first home gym ideas from a designer. Ideally, install large mirrors on one wall, or cover one wall floor to ceiling with mirrors.

The reason you see mirrors in strategic places at the gym is to make it easier to check the form of movements and avoid injuries.

Having whimsical lighting like a regular ceiling light won’t work for a home gym.

Ideally, install some ceiling spotlights in strategic places above your equipment. And leave as much natural light in the room as possible.

13. Warm Wall Paint

This is a great design tip that I recommend everyone should do for a home gym space.

Rather than have stark white walls, try to add warmth with deeper colors. It can have a much more inviting effect and even an impact on your motivation during training.

14. Wood Flooring

I would highly recommend a wood floor or some form of laminate flooring.

First of all, it’s a lot easier to clean and is more hygienic with all the sweating you’re going to do. But it can also make sure that your exercise bike and workout bench don’t slip or end up unbalanced.

I don’t think anyone should have a home gym designed without at least a small TV.

Having your favorite TV show on while you’re doing some boring cardio is one way to keep your motivation levels high.

16. Inspirational Wall Art

And the final part of your home gym design should be some cool, funny, or inspirational wall art that compliments your home gym color scheme.

I have some pictures of dogs lifting weights, which, as a dog owner, makes me smile when I’m working out.

But you can choose anything from your favorite athlete to an image of you in the past that shows how far you have come.